Coach Fitzpatrick lauds Ireland’s ‘spectacular’ performance

THERE were tired bodies but high spirits as the Irish basketball team left Cork at 5am yesterday to put the finishing touches to their European championships semi-final round campaign with a final game against Bosnia in Sarajevo tomorrow night.

They had little time to reflect on Wednesday's thriller at the Mardyke Arena where it took double overtime and all of two hours and 35 minutes to dispose of Cyprus, 104-99, and gain the win they so richly deserved.

"It was very important to us from a seeding point of view," coach Gerry Fitzpatrick said. "It was also an exciting win for us, for the fans and for Irish basketball. Those guys deserved it. They worked so hard not just throughout the game but in the lead up to it. I am absolutely thrilled for them.

"I think to win in this manner taught us a lot about ourselves. People were beginning to think we were a three-quarter team that we could be right up with the best of them for three-quarters of the game and then lose it in the final quarter.

"This time they showed grit and great courage. I think, personally, it was a spectacular performance and I think, from their reaction, the fans enjoyed it too. But it was hectic and I am just hoping we can recover in time for what will be another very hard game against Bosnia.

"It would be great to get two wins. That was our ambition all week. Now we have one and I think we can build on that.

"But, no matter what happens, I just cannot speak highly enough of this squad of players. The commitment they showed against Cyprus is the type of commitment they have been displaying all along. They went out there and did what they had to do.

"Technically, the first half was very good but when the chips were down technique went out the window and it was really exciting stuff."

This has been Ireland's first time competing at this level. After completing their qualifying round with a 5-1 record they entered into previously unchartered territory to face some of the superpowers of world basketball in teams like Germany, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Cyprus.

After serving as assistant, Fitzpatrick took over as head coach from Bill Dooley last year with Roger Kelliher as assistant and they were able to maintain the momentum, helped in no small way by the patriotism that brought the squad together in the first place.

After Wednesday night's victory there was nobody happier than Ireland's captain fantastic Jay Larranga, who had underscored his leadership with one of the best performances of his career.

"Thank God for low ceilings," he laughed as he reflected on how one of the Cypriot players threw the ball in the air after they had reclaimed the lead with 1.7 seconds on the clock only to watch in dismay as it came back off a ceiling beam for Ireland to win it."